Display fixtures



March 26, 1963 'A. w. STEIN ETAL 3,082,920

DISPLAY FIXTURES Filed oct. 24. 1960 r//lllllll/l INVENTORS. ALVIN W. STEIN AND By THOMAS E'. oYD

ATTORNEY Filed Oct. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 64,469 Claims. (Cl. 223-67) This invention relates in general to display fixtures and, more particularly, to forms adapted for displaying garments, such as ladies blouses, mens shirts, and the like.

It has long been the practice in the apparel industry to display garments upon forms which are simulative of the human ligure. For example, mens shirts, ladies blouses and similar garments are customarily displayed upon so-called torso forms, that is to say, a form which in size, contour and shape resembles the male or female torso, as the case may be. Such forms are widely used Vboth by retailers and by wholesalers or manufacturers. Display forms of this type, however, have conventionally been made of papier-mache or other rigid materials and are, therefore, quite bulky. In retail stores, quite `a lbit of storage space must -be devoted to such display forms when they are not in use. Even when stored, under favorable conditions, such forms tend to become rusty and are often damaged.

Moreover, conventional display forms are no-t readily portable. In other words, a traveling salesman cannot carry such display forms on the road with him in order to be able better to display his merchandise. However, most traveling salesmen recognize Ithat apparel can be much more effectively displayed and sold from a display form or sca-called dummy than from a metal hanger or from a pile of garments laid out upon tables.

Some efforts have been made to meet these problems by devising inflatable display forms but such forms have been fragile, easily punctured, and lacking in desirable contour or shape. In an effort to hold some -semblance of shape intermediate cross-stays, partitions, and the like, have been employed, but it has been found that the use of such expedients make the structure cumbersome and bulky. In fact, an inflatable display form with internal stays or partitions does not become particularly compact when deflated. In addition, such display forms are not provided with a stable base nor with means by which garments can be pinned or otherwise held in .some attractively draped position.

It is, ltherefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide an inilatable display form which can be deflated or collapsed into a very compact body or mass for storage or transportation from place to place.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a display form of the type stated which can be quickly and easily inflated to assume contours preci-sely simulating the contours of a human torso without the necessity of internal stays, partitions, or the like.

It is a further object of the present invention Ito provide a display form of the type stated which has a stable and eicient base structure.

It is an additional object of the present invention Ito provide a display form of the type stated which has means for securement of the lower portions of the garment displayed thereon.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing (one sheet) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display form constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

atem "ice FIG. 2 is la fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 3 3 and 4 4, respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of a modified type of display form constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a `fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7 7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now in more detail `and by reference characters .to the drawing, which illustrates practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a display form comprising a hollow inflatable body `1 preferably slush-molded from a vinyl-pla-stisol or similar type of material and conforming in external vappearance or contour to the human male torso. By appropriate modifications in contour the body 1 could be made to represent the female torso if desired an-d, in this connection, it is assumed that the changes in surface detail are sumciently familiar so as to require no specific illustration or verbal description herein. As will be seen by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 1 is completely hollow, being entirely closed at the top and terminating at its lower end in a downwardly opening cylindrical skirt 2.

Also molded of vinyl plastisol or similar material is a heavy walled bottom-member 3 integrally joined around its periphery to a depending annular flange 4, the latter being snugly fitted into and heat-sealed or otherwise suitably secured to the inside face of the skirt 2 so a-s to form a complete air-tight closure across the bottom of the body 1. The flange is coincident along its bottom margin with the bottom margin of the skirt 2, all as best seen in FIG. 2.

The bottom-member 3, furthermore, is provided upon its upper face with a plurality of integrally formed reinforcing beads or ribs 5 which radiate outwardly from the center-area to the outer periphery. Also molded into the central portion of the bottom-member 3 is a flat circular metallic disc 6 which is integrally provided with a concentric downwardly projecting tubular sleeve 7, the latter extending downwardly through and beyond the bottom-member 3 and terminating in a plane spaced a short distance upwardly from the plane of the bottom margin of the skirt 2 and annular flange 4, for snug-fitting removable disposition upon the upper end of a supporting post or rod 8 which is threadedly mounted in a circular base-plate 9. Also molded into the upper face of the bottom-member 3 in concentric relation to the disc 6 iS a circular plate 10 which acts as a sealing element across the top face of the bottom-member 3 and, furthermore, serves to hold the disc 6 in properly spaced relation within the interior of the bottom-member 3 as the bottom-member -3 is molded around the disc 6 Iand its associated sleeve 7.

The bottom member 3 is finally provided with an air-valve v which consists of an outer sleeve 11 integrally provided at its upper end with an annular ange 12 and a central aperture 13 which extends axially therethrough and opens into a conically flared shoulder 14 and cylindrical bore 1S. Press`fitted Within the cylindrical bore 15 -is an internal valve sleeve 16 provided at its upper end with a frusto-conical seat 17, open through an aperture l18 to the aperture 13. At its lower end the internal valve Isleeve 16 is threaded for receiving a tubular valve duct 19 which is closed at its upper end and ground olf in the provision of a tapered plug-forming end portion 20 adapted -for air-tight seated engagement against the tapered seat 17 of the internal valve sleeve 16. Downwardly from its upper end, the valve duct 19 is provided with a plurality of radial apertures 21 opening into the chamberlike interior around the upper end of the internal valve sleeve 16. At its lower end the valve duct 19 projects downwardly below the bottom-member 3 into the space s formed thereunder by the skirt 2. At its downwardly projecting end the valve duct 19, externally-threadedas at 22, is the representation of a suitable or conventional air hose `by which the valve duct 19 may be connected to any conventional type of air pump (not shown). As will be seen by reference to FlG. 4,'when the valve duct 19 is threaded upwardly so that its plug-forming end portion 20 is in seated position, the interior of the body-will be tightly and securely closed oi. On the other hand, when the valve duct 19 is threaded downwardly vso that its plug-forming end portion 20 is displaced downwardly from seated position, air may flow into the body 1 under pressure from a pump when the display form A is being inated to operative position, and, contrariwise, may be exhausted from the interior of the body 1 if the display form A is being collapsed.

Fitted snugly within and secured to the inwardly presented annular face of the skirt 2 is a relatively thick continuous annular band 23 formed preferably of heavy cork or other similar material into which pins and thumb tacks may be stuck. The upper area of the band 23 is secured to the skirt 2 by an adhesive g or any other suitable means, but the lower portion of the band 23 is left free so that thin -fabrics, such aslbroadcloth, and theY like, can be tucked up into the space and retentively held in place thereby if desired.

In use, the valve duct 19 can be opened so that all .of the air within the interior of the body 1 can be exhausted therefrom and thereupon the body 1 can be lowered down and squeezed into a compact unit. Meanwhile, the post 8 can be removed Afrom the sleeve 7 and the baseplate 9 disconnected therefrom, thereby reducing the Ldisplay form A to relatively small size so that it can be packed away for storage in a small container or, if desired, can be packed into a piece of luggage `for salesmens use. When ever it is necessary to use the display form A vfor display purposes, it can be removed from its container and a suitable air pump connected to the lower threaded` end 22 of the air duct 19. Air can then be forced into the interior of the body 1 until it is fully inflated and substantially rigid. Thereupon, the valve duct 19 can be threaded up until the plug-forming upper end 2.0 is in seated or closed-forming position. The air pump, thereuponcan be removed and the structure can be seated up on the supporting rod S and base-plate 9. When the display form A has been fully inflated, a shirt or other garment can be placed thereon and arranged in any attractive display position. The lower ends ofY the garment will ordinarily fall loosely below the lower margins of the skirt 2 and can then be turned upwardly and tucked into the narrow annular space between the lowerrportion of the band V23 and the skirt 2, if the material will lend itself to such treatment. if desirable, it is also possible to turn the lower ends of the garment up into the space s 'and pin it or thumb tack it to the band 23. In either way,

the garment can Vbe suitably Vdraped and heldin the desired position on the display form A.

It desired, it is possible to provide a modified type of display form B, as shown in FIG. 5.V The modified display form B is substantially identical in all respects with the previously described display form A, except that it has a longer torso including the hipsY and upper portion of the thighs so that garments such'as mens underwear, swimming trunks, and similar items of apparel can be displayed thereon. The display form B'is thus provided with two leg simulating sections 24 and 25 which both terminate in downwardly opening cylindrical skirt portions 26, 27, respectively. 'Seated within the skirt portions -26, 27, are bottom-members 28, 29, having integrally formed annular flanges 3i), 31, and molded-in-situ discs 32, 33, which, in turn, are provided with downwardly extending sleeves 34, 35, for snug-fitting removable engagement with the upper ends of supporting posts 36, 37, the latter being threadedly mounted in a baseplate 38, all as best seen in F'lG. 6.

One of the bottom-members, such as the bottommember 2S, is provided with a valve v which is identical ywith the previously described valve v and functions in the same manner.

In use, the form B is operated in substantially the same manner as the previously described form A, air being forced through the valve v to inl-late it into operative position, and being allowed to escape through the valve v to deflate it for storage or transportation.

f It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the display fixtures may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. A display form comprising an inatable body member molded from a flexible synthetic resin material so that its outwardly presented surface contour simulates the surface contours of the human body having a downwardly opening bottom portion, a relatively rigid transverse element mounted in and extending across said bottom portion and forming an air-tight closure thereacross, said element being integrally formed with reinforcing beads that radiate from the center to the outer periphery, a flat disk molded in the central portion Yof said transverse element, a depending tubular element formed with said disk and extending through the underside of said transverse element, a flat plate secured to the upper face of said transverse element and being disposed over said flat disk, valve means in said bottom portion for admitting air to and exhausting air from the interior of the body member, and base-forming means removably engaged with the tubular element, said base-forming means consisting of a vertical rod threadedly mounted in a transversely extending base-plate. Y

2. A display form comprising an inflatable body member having a downwardly opening bottom portion, a relatively rigid transverse element mounted in and extending across said bottom portion and forming an air-tight closure thereacross, Vvalve means in said bottom portion for admitting air to and exhausting air from the interior of the body member, said transverse element having a depending annular Bange extending around the interior face of the bottom portion of the body member, and an annular facing strip of resilient tack-receiving material secured around its upper margin to the inner face of said flange, the lower margin of said tack-receiving material remaining unattached, thereby forming an annular pocket in which fabrics may be tucked and retentively held in place.

3. A display form comprising an inatable body member having a downwardly opening bottom portion, a relatively rigid transverse element mounted in and extending across said bottom portion and forming an air-tight closure thereacross, valve means in said bottom portion for admitting air to and exhausting air from the interior of the body member, said transverse element having a depending annular flange extending around the interior face of the bottom portion of the body member, and ari annular facing strip of resilient heavy cork material se- Ycured around its upper margin toV the inner'face of said iiange, the lower margin of `said heavy cork material remaining unattached, thereby forming an annular pocket in which fabrics may be tucked and retentively heid in place. Y

4. A display form comprising an inflatable body member molded from a flexible synthetic resin material so that its outwardly presented surface contour simulates the surface contours of the human body having a downwardly opening bottom portion, said bottom portion consisting of a heavy walled member forming an air-tight closure thereacross, said heavy walled member having a at circular metallic disk molded into its central portion, said disk being provided with a concentric downwardly projecting tubular sleeve, a circular sealing element molded on the upper face of said member in concentric relation to the disk, valve means in said bottom portion for admitting air to and exhausting air from the interior of the body member, base-forming means removably engaged with the downwardly projecting tubular sleeve, and an annular facing strip of resilient heavy cork material secured around its upper margin to the inner face of said flange, the lower margin of said heavy cork material remaining unattached, thereby forming an annular pocket in which fabrics may be tucked and retentively held in place.

5. A display form comprising an inflatable body member molded from a flexible synthetic resin material s0 that its outwardly presented surface contour simulates the surface contours of the human body having a downwardly opening bottom portion, a relatively rigid transverse element mounted in and extending across said bottom portion and forming an air-tight closure thereacross, said element being integrally formed with reinforcing beads that radiate from the center to the outer periphery, a at disk molded in the central portion of said transverse element, a depending tubular element formed with said disk and extending through the underside of said transverse element, a flat plate secured to the upper face of said transverse element and being disposed over said at disk,

a first tubular sleeve extending through said transverse element, said sleeve having a flange which engages the upper surface of said transverse element, said sleeve having a central bore with a conically-ared shoulder, a second sleeve disposed within said rst tubular sleeve, said second sleeve having a frusto-conical seat adapted for seating engagement with said shoulder, a tubular valve duct threadedly mounted within said second sleeve, said duct having a tapered end portion adapted for air-tight seated engagement against said tapered seat, there being a chamber formed between said irst and second sleeves adjacent the upper ends thereof, said duct having a plurality of apertures opening into said chamber, and baseforming means removably engaged with the tubular element, said base-forming means consisting of a vertical rod threadedly mounted in a transversely extending base-plate.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,206,934 Smith Dec. 5, 1916 1,498,930 Pester lune 24, 1924 1,669,733 Becher et al May 15, 1928 2,273,489 Holmes Feb. 17, 1942 2,534,757 Cordell et al. Dec. 19, 1950 2,823,838 Quaintance Feb. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 456,931 Italy Apr. 29, 1950 

1. A DISPLAY FORM COMPRISING AN INFLATABLE BODY MEMBER MOLDED FROM A FLEXIBLE SYNTHETIC RESIN MATERIAL SO THAT ITS OUTWARDLY PRESENTED SURFACE CONTOUR SIMULATES THE SURFACE CONTOURS OF THE HUMAN BODY HAVING A DOWNWARDLY OPENING BOTTOM PORTION, A RELATIVELY RIGID TRANSVERSE ELEMENT MOUNTED IN AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID BOTTOM PORTION AND FORMING AN AIR-TIGHT CLOSURE THEREACROSS, SAID ELEMENT BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH REINFORCING BEADS THAT RADIATE FROM THE CENTER TO THE OUTER PERIPHERY, A FLAT DISK MOLDED IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID TRANSVERSE ELEMENT, A DEPENDING TUBULAR ELEMENT FORMED WITH SAID DISK AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TRANSVERSE ELEMENT, A FLAT PLATE SECURED TO THE UPPER FACE OF SAID TRANSVERSE ELEMENT AND BEING DISPOSED OVER SAID FLAT DISK, VALVE MEANS IN SAID BOTTOM PORTION FOR ADMITTING AIR TO AND EXHAUSTING AIR FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE BODY MEMBER, AND BASE-FORMING MEANS REMOVABLY ENGAGED WITH THE TUBULAR ELEMENT, SAID BASE-FORMING MEANS CONSISTING OF A VERTICAL ROD THREADEDLY MOUNTED IN A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING BASE-PLATE. 